History

1960s

A brave New Venture

Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson opened the first Del Taco in Yermo, CA in 1964. With a menu of 19¢ tacos, tostadas, fries and 24¢ cheeseburgers, Del Taco brought in $169 in sales on its first day in business - the equivalent of 900 tacos. Things were off to a bold start.

1970s

Growing rapidly

Del Taco thrived during the 1970s. By 1977 there were 50 restaurants and by 1978 there were 100. The menu also grew, expanding to include items like the bun taco, quesadilla and ice cream sundaes.

1980s

del Acquisitions

In 1988, Del Taco greatly increased in size and geographic reach by merging with Naugles restaurant chain. Del Taco also began to stay open all night to serve the growing needs of the new 24/7 lifestyle.

1990s

daring Transitions

In the 90s Del Taco set the stage for extreme growth by launching a series of initiatives to improve the total customer experience and grow the brand's image, including a new logo design.

2000s

Going Bold

By 2006, Del Taco nearly doubled in size and opened the 500th restaurant in 2008. An exciting new dessert was also introduced to the menu that has since become a fan favorite: Caramel Cheesecake Bites. Additionally, the Del Taco Super Special Show launched, treating our fans to a humorous take on our brand.

2010s

A Fresh Approach

By introducing The Del Taco, the Buck & Under Menu, and even more fresh ingredients like sliced avocado, Del Taco continues to be the leader in serving fresh, quality food for a value price. We take pride in chopping, grilling and shredding in our restaurants every day.